When there is discrepancy in the scales - what to do?

kirstyjosephine

Hi there,

I've been using the scales at my work to weigh myself. I purchased a cheap set yesterday (ye old dial). Turns out my initial reading was wrong - the work scales are also mechanical and were on carpet, which gives you a higher result (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2462-people-weigh-less-on-a-hard-surface.html). My new scales and work scales giving me different results by 1kg. I had a co-worker weigh themselves on my new scales so they could see if they were accurate. Apparently they were.

Anyway! I went to the doctor today and their scales give me a result that is 3-4kg heavier than mine give me. The doctors scales are digital.

I realise it's best to measure and use one set of scales, but I'm frustrated that I really don't know what weight I am. Would I be better off investing in a good set of digital scales?

SergeantSunshine_reused

If knowing your exact weight is important to you then yes. To just track progress, its not really necessary

PBJunky

Use the mirror, people don't care about the weight but what you present to them

kirstyjosephine

I'm enjoying the detail orientated aspect of this lifestyle change - having quantitative data is motivating! The mirror doesn't give me that.

oneoddsock

Pick one, and stick to that scale - focus on the relative difference from one weigh-in to the next, rather than getting overly worried about it. I'd imagine that the doctor's scales are probably most accurate because they have an interest in the reading actually being correct, but it doesn't seem like something to worry about.

meeperoon

Tell me about it, I have two digital scales ATM in my bathroom because we thought one was broken, it's not but they still show different amounts, and if you move it two foot to the left it will give you another reading altogether,

God help me when I next go the doctors, I think I'll have a heart attack.

Oh and I also have a wii fit. That agrees with the new scale that was bought.

Find one that works and keep with it! (and don't move it!)

seph_house

if the quantitative bit is important to you, pick one scale in one location, on a hard surface and don't move it (moving mechanical scales can knock the internal bits aroundand shift the calibration). the absolute number is less important than the change in the numbers so minimising the environmental change of the scales and you end up only measuring *your* changes which is the important bit.

anyway, 1 kg is defined as the weight of a lump of platinum–iridium alloy stored in a vault in France. even if your scales are actually measuring you in "lumps of platinum–iridium plus a grape", or in "full coffee mugs" or anything else, does it matter as long as it's consistent.

(i replaced my mechanical scales because they weren't consistent, stepping on 10 secs apart gave a different reading! they were *very* cheap though my new digital ones give a consistent reading which is good enough for me)

mandylooo

I'm enjoying the detail orientated aspect of this lifestyle change - having quantitative data is motivating! The mirror doesn't give me that.

A tape measure will give you the quantitive readings you desire.

You can then just use the scales to plot trends. I weigh myself on the gym scales on a Monday in kg, and in pounds at home on Wednesdays. I don't compare the 2 and plot only the latter.

Amy911Gray

My scales broke a while back...bought new ones, weighed...and I hadn't lost that extra 20. So I added them back and moved on.

kirstyjosephine

I'll buy a new set in the near future. Digital scales!

It's nothing to do with wanting to weigh more or weigh less (as a starting point/current point) - it's just a gripe about accuracy. It wouldn't phase me if I had to add extra to it.

Also, for reference, I struggle with a tape measure (not physically limited) - I'm not very good at remembering where on my hips I measured last. I'll get the hang of it. Give me time.

karenjoy

As part of my job I weigh hundreds of children for the Government, the protocol we use it a calibrated digital scale with an inbuilt spirit level, hard floor and we weigh THREE times, always weigh three times.

When I do weigh myself at home, if the result is the same each time i know it is correct, if it changes each time, then I know something is wrong and if it is two the same and one wrong, I go with the two. At home I always have the scale in the same place, exactly, on a hard floor and I weigh three times, the same time of day, naked lol but it doesn't matter if my scales are different to my neighbours, what matters is that I use mine in a consistent manner and that if they show a change, then it is right, when I go to the Dr they weigh me at a different time of day and with my clothes on, they also use kilos and I use lbs at home, so I don't bother worrying. I am now in the healthy weight range, so the Dr only weighed me when I was having surgery anyway. I was more worried about a load of strangers seeing me naked and unconscious......as a lot younger and firmer last time that happened :flowerforyou:

mandylooo

I'll buy a new set in the near future. Digital scales!

It's nothing to do with wanting to weigh more or weigh less (as a starting point/current point) - it's just a gripe about accuracy. It wouldn't phase me if I had to add extra to it.

Also, for reference, I struggle with a tape measure (not physically limited) - I'm not very good at remembering where on my hips I measured last. I'll get the hang of it. Give me time.

Use a marker pen with indelible ink?:laugh:

Espressocycle

As long as one scale is giving you consistant weight, just stick with it. However, I have one scale that is not consistant at all - e.g. when I pick up a 6 lb weight it goes up 5 lbs but when I pick up a 20 lbs weight it goes up by 25. Not all digital ascales are accurate - I bought one at CVS that was all over the map. Literally you could step on it three times and three weights 15 lbs apart. I did find one that seems accurate for $20 at a discount store, but it didn't have a brand name or anything. I also have a 50-year-old Borg scale that is very accurate too.